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Oshie helps Blues hold off Avalanche

Jan 16, 2009 - 6:56 AM ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- The St. Louis Blues were determined not to suffer a third-period collapse in consecutive contests. Thanks to T.J. Oshie, they accomplished their mission.

Oshie scored a power-play goal and added two assists and fellow rookie Patrik Berglund continued his stellar campaign with his 14th tally of the season as the Blues used a rare offensive outburst to post a 5-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.

Cam Janssen, Brad Boyes and David Backes also scored and David Perron notched two assists for the Blues, who avoided a third straight setback.

"Before the third period, we talked about three things," St. Louis coach Andy Murray said. "We need to make good decisions in the offensive zone, keep people above the puck and see if we can draw a penalty.

"We had some guys who really stepped up tonight. It was huge getting the first goal against a hard-working team like this. After the morning skate, I went around the room and asked them if they played their best-ever game, and nobody said they had, so that means there's more room for improvement."

Cody McLeod and All-Star Milan Hejduk tallied in the third period, but the Avalanche failed to generate any momentum for their season-high, eight-game homestand that begins Friday against the Edmonton Oilers.

"We got outworked this week, especially on special teams, and we can't have that," Colorado coach Tony Granato said. "(St. Louis goaltender Manny) Legace made the big saves in his net and gave them a chance to get going, and they capitalized on their opportunities. But special teams was the difference tonight."

On Tuesday, the Blues allowed two goals by the Calgary Flames in the final 51 seconds of the third period en route to their fifth loss in seven games. In this one, however, St. Louis got off to a hot start and nearly fizzled as Colorado sparked a ferocious comeback in the final session.

"You know it's a different kind of game when the third- and fourth-line guys are doing the business going forward," McLeod said. "It means work rate is everything, and here, ours wasn't good enough. And when we had them on the ropes in the third period, they finished us off."

Berglund and Janssen staked the Blues to a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes, and Boyes netted his team-leading 20th tally of the season 59 seconds into the third for what appeared to be a commanding three-goal bulge.

"The puck movement was awesome, especially on my goal, but all night long, too," said Berglund, who ranks first among rookies in goals. "David and T.J. can make plays anywhere, anytime. This is when it's fun. Now, we have to do it every time we're on the ice."

But McLeod got Colorado on the board 27 seconds later, deflecting Tyler Arnason's shot past Legace, and Hejduk beat the veteran goaltender with a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle at 8:54 to cut the deficit to one.

However, St. Louis' offense finished the contest in rousing fashion.

"I didn't think we lost our cool," Legace said. "We scored two more goals after that and didn't panic."

Oshie received a pass from Brad Winchester and beat netminder Peter Budaj with a wrister from the slot during a power play with 5:08 left. Oshie then set up Backes for a shorthanded empty-netter just over three minutes later to seal the victory.

"It's great when you've got goal-scorers to work with, and (Berglund) and (Boyes) are scorers," Perron said. "We have to work for our chances and make them count, and tonight, we did."

Legace made 24 saves for the Blues, who were without injured All-Star Keith Tkachuk due to an apparent head injury.

A 10-year veteran, Legace posted his 14th career win against the Avalanche.

"I don't own the Avalanche - I think they have some investors," Legace said. "No one owns any team in this league. You just have to be ready to play every night. This is one of those teams you have to prepare for."

Budaj turned aside 21 shots for Colorado, which lost for the ninth time in 13 road games.

"Their power play worked harder than ours - a lot harder - and their forwards did what they had to do all night," Budaj said.